Gov. Patrick signs bill updating state gun laws

[SecularMotion]

BOSTON (AP) — Gov. Deval Patrick on Wednesday signed a sweeping overhaul of Massachusetts’ gun laws.

The bill stiffens penalties for some gun-based crimes, creates a Web-based portal within the state Executive Office of Public Safety to allow for real-time background checks in private gun sales, and calls for the creation of a firearms trafficking unit within the state police.

It also gives local police chiefs the right to go to court to try to deny firearms identification cards needed to buy rifles or shotguns to individuals they feel are unsuitable to have access to the weapons.

Police chiefs currently have the right to deny ‘‘licenses to carry’’ to individuals they feel are unsuitable to carry handguns. The bill would retain that authority, but would require police chiefs to give written reasons for any applications they choose to deny. Their decisions would have to be based on public safety and could be appealed in court.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/2014/08/13/gov-patrick-sign-bill-updating-state-gun-laws/xFJfSsOOP9G38LlNHkNKhO/story.html

[NYC_SKP]

1. Sounds good.

Police chiefs should have to show cause before denial of rights.

Stiff penalties, yes, indeed!

What's not to like?

[mwrguy]

2. It's a start

[friendly_iconoclast]

3. Enjoy that feeling- it won't last long

The 'chief's veto' will only remain until the first person legally qualified under Federal
law gets denied a FID card and takes it to Federal court, where it will be properly
voided.

Other than that, this is a good bill

[Eleanors38]

4. Agreed. Possibly, the chief's veto provision will become

dead letter law. If there is a problem, use due process as government is required to do.

[HALO141]

5. Disgusting. n/t